If you’re shooting at eye level with your subjects and you ask them to look down or off to the side, you’ll likely struggle to find any catchlights in their eyes however, if you position yourself at a higher vantage point, either by standing on a bench or asking your subjects to sit, you’ll find the cloudy sky provides a great source for catchlights as your subjects look up at you. In addition to serving as a giant soft box, a cloudy sky can also stand in as a large reflector. A large open space will allow more light to fall on your subject, but the dark object will cut or block some of the light falling on that side. To subtract light (see the image below), place the subject next to a dark object (building, tree, or the black side of your 5-in-1 reflector) and position your subject so that the dark object reduces the light reflecting on one side of your subject’s face. You can also use flash to add directional light. It helps to have an assistant so that he/she can hold the reflector. To add light, use the white or silver side of a 5-in-1 reflector and position it at a 45-degree angle in relation to the camera and the subject. If you want to add shadows for dimension, you can easily create directional light using one of two methods to either add or subtract light. Tip #2: Create Directional Light With Overcast Skiesįlat lighting is not your only option when in cloudy day photography. The clouds should provide enough cover to keep your subject from squinting while you direct your subject into a pose and cue whatever expression you’re after. Go ahead and place your subject in a bright, open area. While some photographers fear flat lighting, it has a time and place, and portraiture calls on it often.įor closeup portraits, flat light reduces the appearance of lines, blemishes, and imperfections in the skin to create a more flattering look. One of the most popular lighting modifiers on the market is a soft box, which diffuses & softens the light passing through it. Clouds, which essentially act like giant soft boxes in the sky, diffuse sunlight on a grand scale, often resulting in flat lighting. Photographers spend an enormous amount of money on lighting and lighting modifiers. If you use a humidifier make sure you clean it regularly to avoid a build- up of bacteria.Tip #1: The Sky is a Softbox with Cloudy Day Portrait Photography Make sure the windows are well sealed after you remove the air conditioner unit. ![]() If you have window air conditioners remove them for the winter and store them inside or cover them with an approved air conditioner cover. Creosote can build up in a chimney and can pose a fire hazard if ignited. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned before you use the fireplace. This is especially important if someone in your family has allergies or asthma. As soon as you turn on your furnace, all the dust and debris in your ducts will blow into your house through the registers. You may also want to have your ducts cleaned professionally. If you see any evidence of those pests, set traps or call an exterminator.Ĭhange your furnace filter and consider having the furnace serviced before turning it on for the winter. This is the time of year when you may get unwanted houseguests: mice or other rodents. Moving inside the house, check windows and doors from the inside for gaps that may cause drafts. Clogged gutters can lead to ice jams and roof leaks, so if you can’t clean them out yourself, hire someone to do it before winter. They probably need a good cleaning to get rid of built-up leaves and debris. Don’t forget to check your gutters and downspouts. Do you see any loose or missing shingles? This may be a sign that it’s time for a new roof and you should have a roofer inspect it now before it is covered in snow and ice. Scrape and re-paint now before it leads to a bigger problem. ![]() This is a sign that your paint’s finish is failing and can no longer protect the wood underneath. Take a walk around the outside of your home and see if you notice any peeling paint. Let’s start with the exterior of the house. ![]() If you have owned your home for a while, this will be a good refresher. If you are a new homeowner, you may not know what you need to do. Take advantage of the beautiful weather to get your home ready for winter. Ready or not, fall is here and that means winter isn’t far behind.
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